How Long Should a Cover Letter Be

Shorter than most people think.

1. 3-4 short paragraphs, under 300 words total, is the sweet spot for most roles.
2. Executive or highly specialized roles can run slightly longer, but rarely past one page.
3. If you're repeating your resume in paragraph form, you're already too long — cut anything that doesn't add new context.
4. A hiring manager skimming 100 applications will read a tight 200-word letter fully; they'll skim a 500-word one.

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